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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is flanked by Speaker of the House Sam Smith (left) and Lt.. Gov. Jim Cawley as he unveils his 2012-13 budget proposal before a joint session in the Pennsylvania State House Chamber on Tuesday. (Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer)

John Baer

STAFF COLUMNIST

John Baer has written about politics and government for the Daily News since 1987. Neither subject ever fails to provide him with stories of policies and politicians walking on or skirting by paths to perdition.

JB: Yep. Wednesday, House GOP Speaker Sam Smith said he was told 90% of city precincts turned out 90% of their votes, and that is "questionable." When asked if he was suggesting fraud he said, "Maybe a good investigative reporter could track some of that down."

BE: But city turnout was about 60%.

JB: I'm just telling you was he said he was told. And, trust me, other GOPers are saying similar things less publicly, and a little more graphically.

BE: But they also lost Bucks, Montco and Delaware counties. Shouldn't they be rethinking stuff?

JB: They already have. It's called voter ID and redistricting. Both issues got tied up in court this time but GOP thinking put them in play and GOPers say they'll be in place come next election: new district lines more favorable to Republicans, and a new ID law to help keep down that "questionable" Philly vote.

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